by Cat Johnson
“Hey, back.” He dipped his head to meet her halfway for a quick kiss. “You doing some auto mechanic stuff now?” he joked.
“No. The tire is going to be a decorative planter for the front lawn.”
He eyed the old dirty rubber tire.
“Our front lawn?” he asked, cringing at the thought.
“No. It’s for a job. But if you don’t stop being judgmental before you even see the finished product, I’ll make a whole bunch for our house, so stop.”
“I will reserve judgment. I swear.” His lips twitched at how fierce she got over her projects. “It’s a shame you’re all done for the day and I won’t be treated to any more live Trash to Treasure action.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Somehow, I doubt you’re really all that disappointed.” She shook her head. “I still can’t believe this is my life now. I have my own show on television. Or at least it will be when it airs next month.”
“Believe it. It’s all true, so you’d better get used to it.” He bracketed her in his arms with one hand on each of her hips.
“I’ll try,” she said, her hands still resting on his pecs, which even after all these months together she still seemed to be obsessed with.
She was adorable. Every little thing she did and said made him happy. Just thinking of her had him smiling.
He’d been planning to wait. Maybe take her out to dinner. Or do it at home over champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, or something else corny and expected. But the time felt right now.
She was happy. So comfortable in her element in the space she’d created for herself. He couldn’t wait.
Zach reached into his pocket. “There’s something else you’re going to have to get used to.”
Her eyes widened as she glanced down at his open palm.
There was a, “Holy shit,” from somewhere behind him before a bunch of rustling and then the crew went silent.
Zach ignored them and forged ahead. He dropped down to one knee and gazed up at the dark-haired beauty he was lucky enough to call his.
“Gabrielle Lee, it feels like I’ve known you forever, but then again, I know I didn’t really start to know you at all until that first night I heard you singing Disney songs in my shower. And now I know I never want to be without you.”
He grasped the ring between his thumb and forefinger and held it up. A bright light coming from behind him reflected off the diamond and Zach had a strong suspicion his days of being off camera had ended.
Ignoring that the director was no doubt hoping their private moment would end up on TV, he decided to deal with that issue later and finish what he started.
“Gabby, will you marry me?”
Tears filled her eyes as she nodded. “Oh my God. Yes.”
When he slipped the ring on her finger the applause from the crew was one more reminder they weren’t alone, not even close, but he couldn’t care.
He was on his feet and kissing his new fiancé and it felt damn good.
The chick in charge already had her cell phone out. “Hey, I’ve got a pitch for you. Gabby and Zach are getting married. How about a DIY Your Wedding show?”
Zach let out a sigh. He glanced down at Gabby, who was smiling through her tears.
“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Hell, we can elope if you want,” she said.
He shook his head. “I want you to have the wedding you want to have. Even if it means—God help me—dumpster diving behind the Home Depot for wood to build the altar.”
“Really?” Her face glowed with happiness.
He understood the tired but indulgent expression on Clay’s face at McP’s now more than ever. “Really.”
Maybe he and Clay needed to start a support group.
“Gabby.” The director was suddenly next to them, cell still in hand and poised near her ear. “Can we start brainstorming wedding stuff this week and do some preliminary filming next Monday so we have something to show for the pitch?”
Gabby shot Zach a questioning glance. He nodded. “Yeah, sure. Go ahead. Next week is perfect actually.”
The team was scheduled to go wheels up Sunday night. He’d be nowhere nearby and would miss the whole thing. Excellent.
He’d figure out how to get through this. They’d figure it out together. Gabby was worth that and so much more.
“Oh my God. I just had a brilliant idea. What if everything for the wedding was upcycled? Not just the decorations but like everything. Right down to the dresses and the gifts from the guests.” The production assistant was nearly vibrating with excitement over her idea.
The director’s eyes widened. “I love it!”
Zach was afraid to ask, but he did anyway. “Upcycled means like using stuff you find in the trash, doesn’t it?”
Gabby cringed. “Pretty much.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded. Yup, this was going to get interesting.
“I love you,” Gabby whispered. He didn’t miss the little tinge of doubt in her tone.
That insecure shit was going to stop. He never wanted his woman to ever doubt what she meant to him. That he’d walk through fire for her.
Hell, he was even willing to have a dumpster wedding for her.
He pressed her face between his palms and said, “And I love you. Always. Never forget that.” He kissed her hard and deep enough to make sure she believed it.
When he broke the kiss it was to see the camera right there in their faces, barely a foot away. He leveled a glare on the lens since he couldn’t see the man behind it, before he turned his face toward Gabby.
“Can we go home now?” he asked.
She smiled. “Yes. Unless you want to stop by Amanda’s so I can show her the ring—”
“Later.”
Much later.
In fact, tomorrow sounded good to him. He had plans for tonight. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the studio.
He called back, “You guys can lock up, right?”
“You got it, big guy!” the director said, before continuing, “Keep filming until they drive out of sight.”
“Jesus.” He shook his head.
“You regretting asking me to marry you?” Gabby asked.
He paused on the way to the truck to haul her against him and shook his head. “Never.”
"Hey, you know what I'd like to do?" she asked.
The possibilities were endless and tantalizing. "No, what?"
"I want to go back to Tijuana."
His eyes widened. "Not for more tile—"
She shook her head. "No. Not for more tile. For us. I saw some nice-looking hotels and restaurants that night we were there. It would be fun to spend a night or a couple there. You know, when we're not on the run from a drug cartel."
He wouldn't mind a few nights in Tijuana with the woman he loved, but he'd assumed she'd be afraid. "I thought you'd never want to go back there again after last time."
Her gaze met and held his. "Why not? I'll go anywhere with you."
Even after all this time, when she said things like that her blind faith in him nearly brought him to his knees.
He cleared the emotion from his throat and said, "I'll talk to command and see if I can get approved for a couple of days leave."
"That'd be great. But do that tomorrow." The need in her gaze told him they had more important things to do tonight.
Zach pulled her closer. "Tomorrow."
~ * ~
I hope you enjoyed Gabby and Zach’s story. It was a fun one to write, as I got to flex both my military romance as well as my romantic comedy writing muscles—two of my favorite genres!
Did you know that former SEALs Zane Alexander and Silas Branson both have their own stories?
Read about Zane in SAVED BY A SEAL and SEAL THE DEAL (Hot SEALs).
Silas gets his happy ending in SEAL STRONG (Silver SEALs).
Don’t miss Clay and Tasha, the couple from the reality show Hot House, in HOT SEAL, DIRTY MARTINI (SEALs in
Paradise, Season 1)
Finally, you read it here first, SEALs in Paradise continues with *drumroll, please* Season 3, the Wedding Edition! Look for my contribution, HOT SEAL, RUNAWAY BRIDE.
Thanks for reading! Cat
Craving more Zach and Gabby?
Want to see what happens at that frat party eleven years ago between Gabby and Zach that made the next decade of them being in each other's lives thanks to Amanda extra difficult?
Click HERE to join my FB Messenger List and I'll send you the download link for the frat party bonus scene!
A peek into Tasha and Clay's book…
HOT SEAL, DIRTY MARTINI
SEALs in Paradise
“adorably hilarious love story!"
A Navy SEAL who wants seclusion. A diva who craves the spotlight. The deal they make could give them both what they need...if they don't kill each other first! Reality TV has never been so hot.
Navy SEAL Clay "Dirtman" Hagan's retirement plans are simple. Buy the dilapidated beachfront cottage he found listed for a song, fix it up, and live out his days in solitude. Everything is set until an anonymous bidder drives up the price of his future paradise.
TV talk show host Tasha Jones is flying high, until one word—CANCELED—sends her crashing down. Now she's looking to resurrect her career with a new home renovation show, if they can get around the obnoxious buyer standing between her and the perfect property.
When her competition turns out to be none other than the a-hole from her embarrassing drunken one-night stand, the battle for the property really heats up as the insults–and the sparks–fly. The producer notices the chemistry between them and decides the viewers will too and the concept for "Hot House" is born.
If Clay agrees to have the self-centered star and her cameras in his house for the duration of the show, he gets to walk away with the property in the end. If Tasha can put up with living in the house with the Neanderthal control-freak during the construction, she gets a hit show and her career back.
It shouldn't be hard since the director loves when they argue on camera, which is good since they agree on nothing. Well, almost nothing. They do agree they hate each other and neither wants a repeat of their one night together . . . So why does it keep happening?
GET HOT SEAL, DIRTY MARTINI
Hot SEAL, Dirty Martini is a full length, standalone enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy with an HEA and NO cliffhanger. It is part of the SEALs in Paradise series world but you DO NOT have to read the other books to enjoy this one.
HOT SEAL, DIRTY MARTINI
EXCERPT
“Oh my God! That house is amazing.” Tipsy Tasha’s overly loud and excited exclamation drew Clay’s attention to her and her two companions.
“It really is. And a steal too. To get a house on the beach for that amount.” The woman shook her head. “I couldn’t believe it when I saw the listing. And it needs work, which is perfect because that’s the whole point of the show, right?”
“Exactly.” Tasha nodded. “I just love the architecture too. It has character. You can definitely tell it’s older.”
The third woman said, “It was built in the 1950s. That was one of the other things that drew us to it, besides the price and the fact it’s beach-front. It’s quirky, you know. Even the color has personality. We didn’t want another cookie cutter house.”
“Right!” Tasha agreed. “I love the turquoise blue. So fun.”
As he listened, his frown deepened.
Every comment the three women had made could be said about his house.
His was blue and from the 50s. On the beach and in need of work. And a great price—at least it had been. That was rapidly changing.
But it couldn’t be the same house. That would be crazy. Although it was only a fifteen minute drive from here. A buyer could conceivably stop by for a drink on the way back from a showing. He had.
Tasha was still holding up the cell phone the other woman had handed her. He moved slightly so he could glance over her shoulder and—
Mother fucker!
There it was in living color in the photo on the cell phone, his house.
“That’s my house.” In his shock, he said it aloud, whether he’d meant to or not.
One of the women glanced up at him. “You’re the seller?”
“No, I’m the other buyer who you keep outbidding.” He scowled, trying not to tell them exactly what he thought of their swooping in and trying to steal his purchase.
Tasha turned to face him. “Then it’s not your house, is it? If they bid higher, and the seller accepted their offer over yours, then it’s their house.”
Clay stood to his full height and took a step forward, closing in on Tasha, knowing full well how intimidating he could be when looking over someone smaller.
He’d backed men far larger than her into corners with his glare alone.
“Well, Miss Know-It-All, the seller hasn’t accepted their offer yet. So it’s nobody’s house yet.”
Her gaze dropped down his body, as it had the night before when she’d been sizing him up. “I have no doubt they can outbid any amount you can come up with.”
His brows slammed down over his eyes in an angry frown. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” She smirked and lifted one bare shoulder.
Normally that move would make him enjoy that she wore a barely-there sundress with plenty of cleavage showing.
Today, his blood pressure skyrocketed instead. “You know nothing about me.”
“And you know nothing about me, in spite of . . . whatever happened.” Her expression turned insecure, almost questioning.
His mouth dropped open in realization. “Oh my God. You can’t remember last night, can you?”
She must have been drunker than he’d thought to black out and not remember if she had sex with him or not—which made him even more grateful it was not.
He didn’t need any accusations flying around that he’d taken advantage of her.
Her eyes widened, before she shot a quick glance at her companions and then turned to glare a warning at him.
A smile he couldn’t control bowed his lips. She must think they did have sex last night and she didn’t want her home-stealing friends to know she’d gone home with someone as lowly as she apparently thought he was.
This development he could work with.
“Maybe if you convinced your friends over there to back off and I were to get my house, I could walk away from this whole situation without another word. But if I don’t get my house . . .” He lifted his own shoulder and delivered a pointed glance at Tasha’s two friends, who were watching the discussion with undisguised interest.
With her eyeballs in danger of popping out of her head, she hissed in a breath. “You wouldn’t stoop that low.”
“Wouldn’t I?” He cocked up a brow.
She blew out a loud breath, looking torn between anger and panic.
He knew the feeling. He felt the exact same way at the prospect of losing his house to these people—whoever they were.
“Might I make a suggestion?”
Clay raised his gaze to the tall blonde whose name or purpose for being here—besides to steal his house—he didn’t know. “And who are you?” he asked.
“I’m the person who might be able to give you exactly what you want.”
He crossed his arms and scoffed at her overly dramatic comment. He’d bet his next retirement check she was from Hollywood. She had the look and sound about her.
“Oh my God. He’s absolutely perfect.” The brunette standing next to the blonde evaluated Clay with a smile.
“Right? Absolutely. Both of them. They’re perfect together. The chemistry is off the charts.” Blondie’s confusing reply to her sidekick’s equally baffling comment had Clay frowning.
“Perfect for what? What are you talking about?” A single glance at Tasha told Clay she might know a bit more than he did about what was happening, but she looked no happier about
it than he was. “Do you know what’s going on?” he asked her.
“I think I can guess.”
Annoyed, he widened his eyes. “Does someone want to fill me in?”
“I’d love to. Can we sit?” Blondie asked.
“You buying?” he asked.
She nodded with a smile. “Of course.”
Still not moving he decided to push a bit further, since she was being so agreeable. “You going to back off my house?”
She smiled wider. “That will depend on you.”
What the fuck was happening? Out of options and still confused, Clay pushed off the bar.
GET HOT SEAL, DIRTY MARTINI
A peek into Zane Alexander's book…
SAVED BY A SEAL
Hot SEALs
"sensual, action-packed"
A bad boy SEAL. The girl from his past. A deadly kidnapping. A USA Today bestselling book!
Zane Alexander was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but the rebellious bad boy traded it, along with his share of the family fortune, for a Navy SEAL trident and freedom from his controlling father.
Ten years later, Zane’s teammates are depending on him to secure the startup capital they need to open their security company and he’s gambling on his skills at covert operations to get it. For a million dollars he’ll fake interest in Missy Greenwood, the Senator’s daughter his father wants him to date in exchange for the investment.
When Missy is kidnapped and Zane and his team are sent to Nigeria to rescue her, there’s no more faking it when the danger and the emotions turn very real.
READ SAVED BY A SEAL
A peek into Silas Branson's book…
SEAL STRONG
Silver SEALs
A USA Today Bestseller
"...heartbreaking and adorable and SEALishly exciting. I adored it!"
The only easy day was yesterday, and no one knows that better than Lieutenant Commander Silas Branson.
He may have taken several kicks to the gut but once a Seal always a Seal. He’s never backed down from a hard fight and he doesn’t intend to start now.
